When you enroll at a German university, your options depend on where you are already insured. If you are statutorily insured in the EU/EEA or certain other listed countries, you can usually stay on your home coverage for the whole duration of your studies. If you cannot, you need German coverage: public health insurance (recommended for students under 30) or expat health insurance. Students over 30 cannot join public health insurance as students.
What are my health insurance options when I enroll at a German university?
Your options depend on where you are currently insured. If you are statutorily insured in the EU/EEA or in certain other listed countries, you can usually stay on your home country's coverage for the whole duration of your studies. If you are not, you need German coverage, and you can choose between public health insurance (GKV) and expat health insurance. Your age also matters, because students over 30 cannot join public health insurance as students.
Can I stay on my home country's health insurance while studying in Germany?
Yes, if you are statutorily insured in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, or the UK, you can stay on your home insurance for the whole duration of your studies, regardless of your age. A few conditions apply:
Your university will request an electronic status report (M10) to be sent by a German public health insurance provider. Our article on the M10 Meldung explains this in more detail.
To access healthcare in Germany, you can use your EHIC/GHIC or the equivalent document issued by your social security institution.
If you move your permanent residence to Germany and are therefore no longer insured in your home country, you can get insured in Germany instead.
If you start working during your studies, or your home coverage ends for any reason, you will most likely need to switch to German insurance, which you can do easily at that point. Our article on working students has more detail.
Which German health insurance can I choose if I can't stay on my home insurance?
If you are not insured in one of the listed countries, you have two options:
Public health insurance (GKV): we strongly recommend this option for any student under 30. It provides very broad coverage at a discounted student rate of around 150 EUR per month. It also lets you continue with public health insurance as a voluntary member after your studies, which eases the process of getting a job-seeking visa.
Expat health insurance: this is more affordable but provides more limited coverage. It meets all the legal requirements to stay in Germany as a student for up to 5 years. If you choose it, your university will still request a notice of exemption from public health insurance. Our article on the exemption process explains this.
Which option applies to me if I am over 30?
Students over 30 cannot join public health insurance as students in Germany. If you are over 30, you should either sign up for expat health insurance, or keep your home country's insurance if you qualify (see the conditions for staying on home insurance above).